‘Icing on the cake’: Hale named best in women’s rugby league

Gold Coast Titans captain Georgia Hale has been crowned the best player in women’s international rugby league, with the 28-year-old awarded the 2023 Golden Boot this week.

Hale is the first forward in the women’s game to be given the honours after the first three gongs in 2018, 2019, and 2021 were given to backs and halfbacks. She beat Dally M medalist Tamika Upton, teammate Mele Hufanga, and Apii Nicholls. She is the second consecutive New Zealand winner after Dragons star Racene McGregor.

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The Kiwi vice-captain earned her place in the Golden Boot history books after playing a leading role in a 12-6 win over the Jillaroos in the Pacific Championships. The gutsy victory put her squarely in the frame, as did her achievements in clubland; under her captaincy, the Titans made their first-ever NRLW grand final, which they eventually lost to the Newcastle Knights.

When awarded the Golden Boot, the 28-year-old forward was ever-humble.

“I play rugby league to win premierships or championships or World Cups, so to receive such an accolade like this is a very proud moment and I think of how proud I am to be a Kiwi Fern and to represent the Ferns before and the Ferns to come,” Hale said.

“It’s been a special year. I started my journey in 2023 here at Leeds Rhinos… and then was really excited to be able to return home to the Gold Coast and have such a proud season with our Titans girls. Then to finish off my season representing the Kiwi Ferns, breaking a seven-year drought back with the girls from back at home, just really put the icing on the cake but I don’t think you can ever be satisfied with what you have done.

“I am just really excited to see what the next steps are for me in my career and also with all the teams I am so fortunate to take the field with.”

Past women’s Golden Boot winners include:

• 2018 – Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
• 2019 – Jess Sergis (Australia)
• 2020 – No award given
• 2021 – No award given
• 2022 – Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
• 2023 – Georgia Hale (New Zealand)

Hale accepted the award remotely because she is playing with Leeds in England.